Milwaukee Orthopaedic Surgery Effectively Treats Knee Problems
Knee Work Injuries Vary in Shape and Size
When they hurt their knee, all sorts of people come to Dr. Ted Gertel, the Wisconsin Work Injury Doctor. Professional and college athletes, firefighters and police, construction workers, warehouse workers – they all come. No matter who they are or what they do, Dr. Gertel’s response is always the same: “Get treated like a pro athlete.”
Knee injuries are as different as the many types of activities. The first symptom of knee damage is always joint pain. Knee injuries include torn cartilage, ACL tears, ligament tears, loose bodies, and patellar dislocation. The wide array of ailments is partially due to the complex structure of the knee. Its complexity increases the odds an injury could occur. Many knee ailments are successfully treated in Milwaukee through Dr. Gertel’s orthopaedic surgery.
What Knee Components Could Be Damaged
Of all the joints in your body, the knee is the largest. It has four prime elements – tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and bones. Three bones meet there – thighbone, shinbone, and knee cap. Cartilage covers the ends of the thighbone and shinbone, along with the back of the knee cap. This cartilage allows the three bones to move smoothly against each other when you move your leg.
Your knee has shock absorbers, just like your car. Between your thighbone and shinbone are two of these “shock absorbers” – meniscal cartilages. When people discuss a cartilage tear in their knee, they are usually talking about their meniscus.
There are four main ligaments in the knee to keep it snug and stable. Collateral ligaments are on the sides. Medial ligament is within. A lateral collateral ligament is located on the outside. All work together to control side-to-side motion. Cruciate ligaments are inside, forming an “x” to control movements which are back and forth. The patellar tendon goes from the knee cap to the shinbone.
Knee Injury Orthopaedic Surgeon May Be Needed
With all those moving parts, it’s easy for many different types of knee injuries to occur. The Wisconsin work injury doctor is skilled in treating many different types of knee injuries. One common misconception is that ACL tears only occur in sports. Reality is, this severe knee injury frequently occurs in the everyday workplace.
The knee cap is the most commonly broken knee bone. This can occur if you fall directly on the front of your knee. The thighbone or shinbone is often broken as well, usually from a fall or car collision. Such events can also cause the bones to be forced out of place. The dislocation is either partial or total.
The anterior cruciate ligament can often be injured during work activities such as slipping on a wet surface. Dr. Gertel has treated several firefighters who had ACL tears when they twisted the knee while stepping off the rig. Collateral ligament sprains may occur at the same time.
Meniscus tears are also very common. The meniscus is the cartilage cushion in the knee. If you have a torn meniscus, you will experience pain, swelling, and/or locking of the knee.
Quadriceps tendon and patellar tendons can be torn. Anyone can injure these tendons. Falling, a forceful blow to the front of the knee, and an off-balance landing after a jump are common causes of knee tendon injuries.
Knee Injury Doctor Treats You Like an Athlete
To be treated by Dr. Gertel, you don’t have to be a professional athlete. Your Wisconsin work injury is as important to him as it is to you. Knee injury specialist Dr. Gertel will accurately diagnose your knee problem and prescribe the precise treatment you need to get back to work quickly and safely.
